Cigar lighter



April 29, 1930. A. F. JACKSON CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1930. JACKSON 1,756,013

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIJOE men n. :racxson, or ATTLEZBORO, massacnosnrrs, assronon 'ro APCO mossnnao CORPORATION, or ATTLEBORO, massaonnsn'r'rs, A, coaroaa'rron or MAS- SACHUSE'ITS I a I CIGAR nonrna Application filed June 27, 1929; Serial F0. $14,182.

The invention of the present application descence from the igniter, even though said 7 relates to cigar lighters, and more particuelement is faced away from the operator and larly to a novel and improved electrically concealed in the base, will be visible through operated lighter particularly adapted and said transparent cover or member. The word 6 intended for use in and application to an transparent in this application is also inautomobile.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a cigar lighter which will be very simple to operate and manipu- 10 late, and in which the igniting element or heating unit, when removed by the operator, will be in a natural and normal position for effecting the lighting of a cigar or cigarette, without the necessity of reversin the element in the hand of the operator, t us enabling the operator to devote his entire attention to the road and to the operation of the automobile.

Another ob'ect of the invention is the provision of a su stantially spherical base or receptacle, inv which is seated a removable plunger, this plunger carrying the heating element or igniter.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a plunger which is small,

light, and compact, and therefore easily handled by the operator.

- A dlfliculty with present lighters wherein the igniter is concealed within a housing, is

the collection of ashes in said housing, this ash collection frequently reaching such proportions as to disablethe lighter and prevent proper operation thereof. Another object of my invention, therefore, is the provision of means in the base or receptacle, to permit the discharge Or passage of ashes in the base to the open air, thus at all times retainingthe. interior of the base in proper working condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hghter in which means is provided on the 'fixed portion or member to appr se the operator when the igniter has reached the proper degree of heat or incandescence. This im ortant feature is accomplished b means 0 an ornamental-transparent annu ar member forming a considerable portion of the base Or receptacle, the igniter and the mountings and carrier-therefor being so constructed and arrangedthat incantended to include translucent materials, the

resides in the construction of the aforesaid plunger and its cooperating parts, i said plunger being adapted to be depressed to close a circuit to enable the igniter to. function, and said plunger being automatically ,returnable to normal position by suitable spring controlled means.

I I prefer to mount my present novel lighter at the top of the gear shift lever of an auto mobile, this lighter taking the place of the present gear. shift ball, knob or handle. Thus my novel lighter serves the dual function of a cigar lighter, and of an ornamental, .substantially spherical gear shift lever knob. Another object of the invention resides in the simplicity of operation of my novel lighter, said lighter being constructed and arranged so that the same can be operated by but one finger of the operator, and the plunger may be removed by said single finger and then grasped between said finger and the thumb for convenience in lighting a cigar or cigarette.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a spring pressed button adapted to close the open end of the plunger, but to be easily displaceable when operatingthe lighter. Although the lighter is illustrated in the present application as being utilized as a. gear shift ball or knob, it will be appreciated that I am in no way limited tothis particular location, but may apply or install the lighter on the dash panel or other parts of the automobile. However, I prefer tofinstall the lighter on top of the gear shift lever for accessibility, safety, and convenience of the operator and other occupants of the drivers seat.

By varying the color or shade of the trans- 4 plication.

parent part of the fixed member, the incandescence of the igniter will produce many varied and beautiful colors, shades and effects, thus strongly appealing to the aesthetic tastes of many operators. Thus my present improved lighter, while possessing extreme utility, is also ornamental, and an attractive accessory on an automobile.

Further features and objects of the invention reside in the specific and particular details of construction of the lighter and of the removable plunger, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

I believe that my cigar lighter, above briefly described, is novel, and have therefore claimed the same broadly in the present ap- The above and other objects and features of the invention, details of construction, combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel lighter installed on the gear shift lever of an automobile; 1 a

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the lighter in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lighter;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the plunger depressed to igniting position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the fixed member of base, from which the plunger carryin the igniter has been removed;

ig. 6 is a side elevation of the plunger, illustrating the manner in which it is held in the hand of the operator;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the plunger;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged. fragmentary detail illustrating the method of attaching one end of the igniter element to its mounting;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view .onrthe line 9-9 of Fig.4'

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the spring holding cup on the fixed portion or base; and

Fig 11 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, illustrating the attachment of my novel lighter to the dash panel of an automobile.

Referring now to the drawings, for a particular description of the invention, its construction, assembly and operation, 1 designates a gear shift lever of an automobile, having the usual threaded upper end 2. Thread-' ed onto this end 2 is an adapter 3, and thread ed onto the adapter is the threaded neck 4 of a cup shaped member 5.

Depending from the member 5 is a tube 6 within which is contained a sleeve 7 of insulating material. Suitable current conducting wires 8 are carried in a protecting sheathing 9, the upper end of the sheathing 9 extending into the tube 6, and the wires 8 then extending through the sleeve 7, and through a disc 10 of insulating material, this disc being bored or otherwise provided with a of current conducting material firmly against the disc 10.- Afcup shaped annulus 13 is seated on the top of the disc 10, this annulus having several apertures 14 formed therethrough, and having lips 15 adapted to engage the sides of the disc 10 to prevent lat eral movement of the said disc. This annulus l3 constitutes a seat for the lower end of a coiled spring 16, the upper end of said spring bearing against theflange 17 of a sleeve 18, said sleeve also having an inwardly extending flange 19 at its lower end. Upon upward movement of the spring 16 and sleeve 18, the same will be limited by the flange 20 of a ring 21, this ring having an upturned lip 22 by means of which the ring 21 is fixed to the interior of the cup shaped member 5 by screws 23. Seated on the flange 20 is a gasket or washer 24 of cushioning material, and on this gasket is seated an annulanmember 25 of transparent material, of any desired shade or ,color.

Extending upwardly from the flange 20 are a plurality of rods 26 carrying at their upper ends an externally threaded ring 27. The member 25 is adapted to be fitted or slid over the rods 26. On top of the member 25 is placed a gasket 28 and a metallic ring 29 is then fitted or threaded over the ring 27, thus securely clamping the transparent member 25 in position. The sheathing 9 is clamped to the gear shift lever 1 by clamps or clips 30, any suitable or desirable number of these clamps or clips being provided.

The structure thus far described constitutes what I term the fixed portion of my novel lighter, fixed meanin in the sense that although said portion may e unthreaded from the gear shift lever, it is fixed in position during operation of the device and is not intended to be'removed'from said lever 1,kexcepting for repairs, alterations or the li e.

' The removable portion 31 ofmy novel lighter will now be described, this plunger comprising a sleeve 32 having an inturned flange 33 around its upper end and being internally threaded at its lower end to receive a correspondingly threaded disc 34: of suitable heat resisting material. Extending throu h this disc 34 is a hollow stem 35 threa ed at its upper end to receive a nut, 36, said stem having an out-turned flange 37 at its lower end. On the upper surface of the disc 34 is a cup 38, and surrounding this peculiar adaptability for use as a gear shift" lever ball, without any inconvenience or awkwardness to the driver or operator.

Below the disc 34 is a small disc 41 having legs-7 5 adapted to bear against the ring 52,

and below this disc 41 isa sleeve 42 surround-' ,ing the stem 35. Below this sleeve 42 is a smaller sleeve or ring 43 of heat resisting ma terial and below said ring 43 is a current conducting ring 44. Below the ring 44 is a disc 45 .of insulating material, then a mounting 46 and another disc 47 of insulating material. All these last mentioned elements are securely clamped in position between the flange 37 and .nut 36, forming a. rigid structure throughout. Below the flange 37 is another disc 48 of insulating material. Carried in the mounting 46 is an igniter element or resistande element or wire 49, one end thereof extending through the wall of the mounting 46 and being held therein by pinching, as

illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The other end of the element 49 extends upwardly into the stem 35 and is held therein by a wedge 50.. The ring 44 has a flange 51 on which-rides another ring 52 of heat resisting material.

The ring 44 is provided with apertures 53 and the mounting 46 is provided'with apertures 54, said apertures preferably being alined, and the ring 52 being spaced below the ring 32. Thus when the element 49 has reached a state of incandescence, as will be afterwards more fully explained, the glow or incandescence of said element will be Visible, through the apertures 53 and 54, and through the member 25 of transparent material, thus apprising the operator that the igniter is in proper condition to function for lighting a cigar or cigarette.

As the lightefis used, ashes .Wlll of course collect on the element 49 and its surrounding parts, and will be deposited in the interior of the base or fixed portion when the plunger 4 31 is replaced therein.

This collection of ashes would in time so clog up the interior of the device as to render it inoperative, and to overcome this difliculty I have provided, in the annulus 13 and member 5, cooperating alined apertures 55,,

through which ashes will drop, thus automatically freeing the interior of the device from an injuriousexcess of ashes or the like. Theope'ration of this lighter is slmple, and

I will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, being briefly described asfollows:

It will be understood that the current conducting wires 8 lead from any suitable source attractiveness and other advantages and feaof power, such as the battery of an automobile. It being desired to light a cigar or cigarette, one finger 56 is pressed against the button 40 or against. the flange 33, thus depressing the plunger 31 in its recess. By depressing the button 40 the operator is enabled to get his finger under the flange 33.for a firmer grip thereon. This depression of the plunger 31 will bring the mounting 46 into contact with th current conducting cup 12. Thereupon current will be conducted through the element 49, into the stem 35, through the ring 44, spring 16, annulus 13, rin 21 and member 5 back to the gear shift ever or ground. This flowof current will result in bringing the element 49 to incandescence, which will be visible to the operator through the member 25'by means of,the alined apertures 53 and 54, apprising him that the lighter is in condition for use. The operator then. simply withdraws the plunger 31 from the base, and keeping the finger on the interior of the plunger, grasps it at the same time with the thumb 57, whereupon the lighter is ready {so be applied to the cigar or cigarette to be I The plunger 31 is small and light, and there is no appreciable weight thereto, the

operator being enabled to handle it with but a single. finger if desired. The feature of-grasping the plunger 31, on the interior, instead of the exterior, is also of great assistance in the handling thereof. The plunger 31 has a sliding fit in its recess, and thus there is no resistance to its removal by the operator.

After completion of the lighting, the op- 1 erator'simply replaces the plunger 31' in the recess provided therefor in the base or fixed,

portion, the plunger being substantially entirely housed in said base, and being held out of engagement with the current conducting cup 12 by means of the spring 16 until it is again desired to operate the lighter. The simplicity, efliciency, ease of operation,

tures of my novel lighter .will be instantly apparent tothose skilled in the art, as well as to automobile owners and operators.

While the-preferred application of the invention. is to the gear shift lever of an automobile, it will be appreciated that it may be located in other positions if desired, such as on the dash panel 60, to which panel the lighter may be secured by a threaded stem 61, washer 62 and nut63. Some operators may prefer to have the lighter mounted in this position, but for convenience, accessibility and all round desirability, I prefer to mount the lighter on*the gear shift lever, where it servesthe dual purpose above mentioned.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit I of the invention.

My invention is further described anddefined in the form of claims as follows on said plunger alined with said terminal,

1. In a lighter of the kind described, a base, a removable plunger in said base, an igniting element carried by said plunger, a terminal in said base connected to a suitable source of power, spring controlled means to normally retain said igniting element out of contact with said terminal, one end of said plunger having an open recess therein, and a-spring pressed button to normally close the open end of said recess.

2. In a lighter of the kind described, a base, a removable plunger in said base, an igniting element carried by said plunger, a terminal in said base connected to a suitable source-0f power, spring controlled means to normally retain-said igniting element out of contact with said terminal, one end of said plunger having an open recess therein, a spring pressed button to normally close the open end of said recess, and an inturned flange around the o 11 end of said recess against which said utton normally presses and which flange, when said button is depressed, serves as a finger grip. I e

3. A lighter of the kind described, comprising a substantially spherical fixed base having a recess therein, a current conducting-terminal at the bottom of said recess, a removable plunger in said base, an igniting element spring means to normally retain said element spaced from said terminal, said plunger having a recess at one end thereof to receive a finger, said fixed base being provided with apertures to permit the discharge of ashes.

from the interior of said base.

4. In a cigar lighter of the kind described, a transparent base, a removable lunger in said base, an igniting element earned by said plunger, a terminal in said base connected to a suitable source of power, spring 0on trolled means to normally retain said igniting element out of contact with said terminal,

one end of said plunger having an open recess therein, and a spring pressed button to normally close the open end of said recess.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. J ALFRED F. JACKSON. 

